Turn signalling arrangement



April 23, 1957 J. R. HoLLllNs TURN SIGNALLING ARRANGEMENT Filed June 2, 1954) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y//l/Illll/l/llllllIllll/llll/lll/l/Illllll/ll//ll/ll/l/ Y F l G INVENTOR w/fm Mm April 23, 1957 J. R. HoLLlNs TURN SIGNALLING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2. 1954 wrmo $25 9E... o N? :Bim En .6528 A9@ m .C .25 2m: ....m.

TTORNE United States Patent TURN SIGNALLING ARRANGEMENT Jesse R. Hollins, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application June`2, 1954, Serial No. 433,938V

4 Claims. (Cl. 340-81) This invention relates to turn signalling arrangements for automotive vehicles and, more particularly, to a novel turn signalling arrangement utilizing the parking, stop, and tail lamps on a selected side of the vehicle as flashing turn indicator lamps` Most automotive vehicles, particularly later models, are equipped with turn signalling systems and, in some States, new vehicles are required by law to be so equipped. The usual turn signalling arrangement comprises a turn signal selector lever mounted on the steering column and selectively operating switch means to connect signal lamps on either side and both ends of the vehicle to the vehicle source of energy through a asher. Thus, to signal a right turn, the selector lever is operated to flash signal lamps on the right side of the vehicle, and vice versa for a left turn.

Various signal lamp arrangements have been proposed, some utilizing signal lamps separate from the usual vehicle lamps and others utilizing the vehicle parking, tail, and/or stop lamps. ln night driving, the vehicle tail lamps are steadily illuminated, as are also the headlamps or parking lamps, dependent upon whether the headlamp control switch is in the parking lamp or headlamp positions. Also, the brake is usually applied in making a turn, resulting in steady burning of the stop lamps.

Consequently, if separate signal lamps are used to flashingly signal a turn, their effectiveness as a signal is considerably diminished by the proximity of the steady burning tail and stop lamps, and of the steady burning parking lamps, if the latter are on. This diminished signal effectiveness is even more true of turn signalling arrangements utilizing the stop, tail, and/or parking lamps. ln such case, the change of illumination is only one of degree, the flasher energization merely increasing the illumination periodically from one steady level to a momentarily higher level. v

The decrease in signal effectiveness is even more pronounced where the tail and stop lamps are combined in a single unit or are separate laments in a single lamp. With one lamp or filament in the unit burning steadily and the other being flashed, the dilerence in illumination is insuflicient to provide a completely adequate turn signal.

With the foregoing in mind, the present invention is directed to a novel turn signalling arrangement utilizing the vehicle parking, tail, and stop lamps. The arrangement includes a novel three-position turn selector switch which, in its ofr or neutral position, connects both parking lamps and both tail lamps to the parking lamp tap and tail lamp tap, respectively, ofthe headlamp control switch, and both stop lamps to the brake-operated stop lamp switch. ln either turn signalling position of the switch, the parking and tail lamps on one side of the vehicle are disconnected from the headlamp control switch, and the stop lamps on such side, are disconnected from the brake operated switch; and all these lamps on the selected side of the vehicle corresponding to the turn direction are connected to the vehicle electric energy source through a asher.

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. 2 Thus, in signaling a turn, the parking, tail and stop lamps on one side of the vehicle are all ashed between full oli and full on. Hence, there is no diminishing of the signalling effect due to steady burning lamps on the signal side of the vehicle, and the signal effect is augmented both by flashing the tail and stop andpolygonaL preferably squared, ends.

lamps in synchronism and by the contrast between alternating full o and full on illumination of the lamps flashing the turn signal. The parking, tail, and stop lamps on the opposite side of the vehicle remain steadily illuminated.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. in the drawings: i

Fig. l is a partial plan view of one form of turn selector switch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a diametric sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a schematic wiring diagram of the invention turn signalling arrangement;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of another form of turn selector switch embodying the invention, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are transverse sectional views of the switch of Fig. 4, taken on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the invention turn signalling arrangement is illustrated as incorporated in an automotive vehicle having a headlamp control switch HS, a brake switch HS, closed whenever brake pedal BP is depressed to apply the brakes, parking lamps PL, PL', tail lamp filaments TL, TL', and stop lampv filaments SL, SL. In the particular arrangement illustrated, the tail and stop lamp means comprise separate filaments in the same bulb. However, the invention is equally applicable to automotive vehicles having separate tail and stop lamp bulbs in the same unit or in independent units.

Switches BS and HS are connected to the usual vehicle source of energy, such as a generator charged battery, and, in the usual manner, headlamp switch is provided with headlamp, parking lamp, and tail lamp taps. Tail lamp tap l1 is connected to the battery in either on position of switch HS, whereas headlamp tap 12 and parking lamp tap 13 are connected to the battery in alternate on positions of switch HS. All of the several lamp filaments have one terminal grounded in the usual manner.

The invention arrangement includes a turn selector switch 20, having an operating handle 25, and a flasher FL. Switch 2l) is interposed electrically between switch HS, switch BS and flasher FL, and lamp means PL, TL and SL. Flasher FL, which may be a thermostatically operated on-off switch, is connected to the vehicle source of energy and has connected thereto a grounded indicator or pilot lamp lL which is flashed whenever flasher FL is energized. Lamp IL is usually mounted on the dash board or on the turn selector switch.

Switch Ztl includes a base 26 of dielectric material on which is pivotally mounted a shaft 27 having a circular bearing portion engaged in a circular hole in base 26 Handle 25 is secured `to one polygonal end of shaft 27 and a dielectric disk 30 is secured to the other polygonal end thereof. l2)isk 30 is thus cscillatable by handle 25 relative to base Base 26 carries a tail lamp contact 21 connected to tail lamp tap 11, a stop lamp contact 22 connected to brake switch BS, a parking lamp contact 23 connected to parking lamp tap 13, and a flasher contact 2'4 connected to the output terminal of asher FL; These four contacts are preferably spaced about apart and located uniform fdistances from the periphery of' disk 30.

On either sid'e-V of contact 21, base 26 carries contacts I6; 16"' respectively connected'to tail lamp filaments Tis, TL. Similarly, contacts 17', 17 on base 26 on either sideof contact. 2 2A areconnected respectively to stop lamp fiainemssl: andSLQandicontacts.18, 18f c n either side oflcontact 23 are` connected' respectively. to parking lamps RL, PL The lamps without the prime" are assumed to be on the right side of' the vehicle and. those with the Prime on the left side of the vehicle.

Dielectric, disk 3ft-has secured thereto a circular metallic Contact strip 35`having five fingers, a, b, c, i and e spaced equiangularly from eachY other,l and two contact lingers )faudlgI respectively substantially diametrically opposite fingers a and e. The fingers project beyond the rim of' disk` 3l)A to. align with the contacts carried by base 26 Inthe oft or nentrl position of' switch 20, finger c isjengaged; with flasher contact 24, finger f is spaced midway between contacts 16 and17, and finger g is spaced midway between contacts 1,6' and 18.

Disk 30 carries an arcuate tail lamp contact strip 40 having` three fingers 41, 42,V 43. InA the off position of switch 20, fingers 41', 42 and 43 are respectively engaged with contacts 16, 2 1Y and 16. An arcuate stop lamp contact switch 45 on disk 30 has fingers 46', 47 and' 48 respectively engaged with contacts 17, 22 and 17 in the neutralposition of switch 20, and an arcuate parking lamp contact strip 50 on disk 30 has contact fingers 51, 52 and 53 respectively engaged with contacts 18, 23 and 18 in the neutral position of switch 20.

Referring to Fig. 3', it will be observed that, in the illustrated neutral position of switch 20, tail lamp filaments TL, TL are connected to tail lamp tap 11 through con- 'tact 21,y strip 41B, and contacts 16, 16'; stop lamp filaments SL, SLv are connected to brake switch BS through contact 22, strip 45', and, contacts 17, 17'; and parking lamps PL, PL are connected to parking lamp tap 13 through contact 23, strip 50, and contacts 18, 18. Thus, wherever the brakes are applied, lamp filaments SL, SL' will be steadily energized, lamp filaments TL, TL will be steadily energized whenever switch HS is in either on position, and lamps PL, PL willy be steadily energized whenever switch HS is in the parking lamps on position.

vTo signalV a right turn, lever is moved one step clockwise. In this position of disk 30, finger b engages contact 24, finger e engages contact 17, finger 46 engages Lcontact 22, finger 47 engages contact 17', finger 48 occupies.. the former position of finger f, finger f engages contact 16, finger 41 engages contact 21, finger 42 envgages contact 161', finger 43 occupies the former position of' finger g, finger g engages contact 18, finger 51 engages contact 23, finger 42 engages contact 18', and finger 43 occupies the former position of finger a. Thus, contacts 17, 16 and 13 are connected to fiasher FL through fingers e, f and' g, strip 35, finger [i and Contact 24,30 that the right lamp means SL, TL and PL are flashed between the full on and full ofi conditions. Left stop lamp filament SL remains connected to switch VBS through contacts 17', 22 and fingers 46, 47 of strip 45. Left tail lamp filament TL remains connected to tap 11' through contacts 21, 16 and fingers 41, 42 of strip 40. Left parking4 lamp PL remains connected to tap V13 through contacts 23, 18" and fingers S1, 52 of strip 5.0. Thus, the-left side lamps remain steadily illuminated 'while all three right side lamps are flashed by flasher FL.

To. signal a left turn, handle 25 is moved counter-clockwise one step, and the left side lamps are thus connected to fiasher' FL through strip 35 While the right side lamps are still connected' to switches HS and BS.

The selector switch4 20 is illustrated as an oscillatable switch. However,v this switch may take other forms within the. scope of the invention. A reciprocable slide type of switch.v isk shown. in Fiss- 4, 5. and 6. g Referring to these figures, a Selector vSwitcll; 120.115 illusstated.` as including a cylindrical. mounting, Sleeve. 1.26,. Qf dielectric material, within which is s lidably teleSGQPEd a dielectric sleeve fitted on a conductive metal cylinder or tube 135'. Sleeve 1'30 and` tube 135' are slidable as a unit axially of sleeve 126 but fixed against rotation therein by suitable means not shown. Such sliding may be effected by linkage (not shown) connected to a turn selector lever.

In the illustrated neutral or off position switch tail lamp tap contact 121 is connected to tail lamp contacts 116, 1,16.' by a. conductive strip or bar 140, brake switch contact 122 is connected to stop lamp contacts 117, 117 by a conductive 'stripA or bar, 145, andr parking lamp tap contact 123 isconnected toparking lamp contacts 118, 118' by a conductive strip or bar 150. Flasher contact 124 is engaged with. contactY c which is connected to sleeve 135, as are also the other lettered contacts such as b', e', f', f, s', etc.

T signal a right turn, the sleeve-tube unit 13G-135 is moved one position to the left. This connects right tail lamp' contact 116 to fiasher contact 124 through contacts f, b', and sleeve 135. rthe right stop lamp and right parking lamp are connected to the fiasher in a similar manner. The left tail lamp, stop lamp, and parking lamp contacts 116', 1 17' and 118 remain connected to tail lamp tap, brake switch, and parking lamp tap contacts12u1, 122 and 123 through strips 140, 145 and 150, respectively. The righ-t side lamps are thus all flashed while the, left side lamps burn steadily.

To signal' a left turn, the sleeve-tube unit is moved from neutralfi one position to the right. This connects the left side lamps to flasher contact 124 leaving the right side' lamps connected to their steadily energized conductive strips.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from v such'v principles.

What is claimed is:

l. in combination with an automotive vehicle having a source of electricalv energy, a headlamp control switch and a brake pedal operated switch connected to sald source, said control switch having parking and tail lamp taps, a pair of tail lamp means, a pair of stop lamp means, and a pair of parking lamp means, the lamp means of each pair being mounted on opposite side of: the vehicle; a turn signalling arrangement comprising a ashcr connected to said source; a turn signalling switch; circuit means operatively interconnecting said turn signalling switchk to said control switch tap, said brake pedal operated switch, said lamp means, and said flasher; said turn signalling switch having a neutral position connecting said tail lamp and parking lamp means to said tail lamp and parking lamp' taps, respectively, and said stop lamp means to. said brake operated4 switch for steady illumination upon operation of said control switch and the brake pedal, respectively; and a pair of turn signalling positions each disconnecting all of said lamp means on one side of the vehicle from said control' and brake operated switches and connecting all the lamp means on such one side of the vehicle to said flasher for intermittent illumination, while maintaining all the lamp means on the opposite side of the vehicle connected to said control and brake pedal operated switches, respectively, for normal steady illumination thereof.

2- A turn signalling arrangement as claimed in 21@lim 1 inY which sa'idturn Signalling' Switsli smprises a pair 0f relatively movable dielectric members, one carrying contacts adapted to be connected to said control and brake pedal operated switches, said lamp means, and said flasher; and the other member carrying contact means selectively engageable with said contacts.

3- A turn signaling' arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which Said dielectric m bers are disks relatively 0seillatable about a commen aan. Y

4. A turn signaling arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which said dielectn'c members have relative longitudinal movement.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6 Wemer Oct. 20, 1925 Farrand Aug. 6, 1940 Murray Apr. 15, 1941 Murray Dec. 30, 1941 Falge June 15, 1943 Hollins July 31, 1951 v Hollins Aug. 19, 1952 Stevenson Mar. 16, 1954 

